Love rugby: Leicester snarl, Saracens surge and Exeter signings

The block ‘FU’ allocated to Northampton fans at Matteoli Woods Welford Road in the East Midlands derby summed up Leicester’s predictably confrontational approach to the fixture.

Within three minutes the Tigers had started a 30-man melee with Nicky Smith’s snarling push and shove and his relentless team continued the aggro all afternoon.

A total of six cards were shared between the two teams – two yellows and Isaiah Peres’ 20th-minute red for Leicester, and three yellows for Saints – but the scoreline was much more one-sided, with the Tigers winning. 41-17 Love to register eighth straight home win.

Northampton pushed forward as a strong front five of Smith, Jamie Blamer, Joe Hayes, George Martin and Ollie Chasham.

Northampton leaked possession at scrums and line-outs and their back section could not conjure up the get-out-of-jail card that has become their trump card in recent weeks.

Instead, Leicester’s England stars shined.

Jake van Portvliet produced a delicious bump-and-run kick-through for Adam Radwan to score the first try of the second half. Freddie Steward, whose torpedo miss-pass had earlier set up Ollie Hassell-Collins’ score, scored Leicester’s sixth try – a derby record.

And a mention for James O’Connor. The Australian was handed his second start since February after first-choice fly-half Billy Searle suffered an injury in training, but delighted in a fast-paced, frenetic game.

With Searle, the undisputed signing of the season, potentially out for the rest of the campaign, O’Connor or Orlando Bailey, who flipped to the fly-half role for the final quarter, are set for a starring role in the run-in.

The Tigers are now just a point clear of Bath, who have lost three in a row in all competitions, and second place which would book a semi-final in their home fortress.

A fair bit can change between now and then, but the two meet in the regular season finale at the Rec.

Northampton need to regroup. They stay on top, but there was a sense that defeat was in the pipeline, with their defense and set-pieces cracking in recent weeks.